In this commentary, I reflect on my recent trip to Copenhagen, Denmark, and the broader implications of living in the post-Christendom West. Walking the ancient streets and talking to seasoned church leaders I pondered two major factors that contribute to secularism, and how Protestantism has become a victim of its own success. Yet some European countries and U.S. regions buck the secular trend. Why? Considering the story of secularism—and resilient Christianity—helps us pass down a robust, durable faith to the next generation.

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In This Episode

04:00 – Faith and decadence on Copenhagen’s streets

08:00 – From opt-out to opt-in belief

12:00 – America’s exception and slow convergence

18:00 – Faith thrives under tension

23:00 – The problem with establishment

30:00 – Reform, burnout, and secular substitutes

36:00 – Postwar humanism and its cracks

45:00 – Reality intrudes on secular optimism

49:00 – Three pressures on secularism and gospel hope

Resources Mentioned

Graph of Religious Importance and Corresponding GDP
Graph of Religious Attendance in the US and Europe
A Secular Age by Charles Taylor
Destroyer of the gods by Larry W. Hurtado
Dominion by Tom Holland
The Age of Hitler and How We Will Survive It by Alec Ryrie
The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis

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